Bella Union
Encyclopedia
Bella Union is an independent record label
that was started up by Simon Raymonde
and Robin Guthrie
in 1997.
After releasing records with 4AD
for a large part of their career, Cocteau Twins
decided to take a step towards independence and started up the Bella Union record label, through which they could release their own work as well as any collaborative efforts. The band split up not long after, but instead of letting the newly formed label go under, Robin Guthrie
, Cocteau Twins' founder and lead guitarist and Simon Raymonde
, the band's bassist since 1984, decided to take charge of it. One of the earliest bands to sign on was the Australian trio Dirty Three
, who continue to release under Bella Union to this day. Other early signees include Françoiz Breut
and The Czars
. The label fosters bands from a variety of musical genres and is notable for the amount of freedom given to its artists. Since 2000, when Guthrie moved to France to concentrate on his own music and Raymonde took the reins at Bella Union, the label has signed more artists like Laura Veirs, Lift To Experience, Explosions In The Sky
etc. In 2006 the label had a memorable year with Midlake
, The Dears
, Howling Bells
, and Fionn Regan all having great success, and in 2007 as the 10th anniversary celebrations saw them host two nights at the Royal Festival Hall, with special guests Paul Weller, Romeo and Tom from Editors, the year was capped off by Fionn Regan being nominated for a Mercury Prize Best Album Of The Year. In 2008 and 2009, with the phenomenal success of their discovery of Fleet Foxes
, which remained in the chart for 100 weeks consecutively, and was the biggest selling independent album of the year, gave the label their first Platinum selling disc. The label has sold over half a million sales to date
With subsequent releases from Beach House
, Department of Eagles
, Lone Wolf
, Our Broken Garden, Fleet Foxes
, The Acorn
, Abe Vigoda
, J. Tillman
, Peter Broderick
, The Kissaway Trail
, Pearly Gate Music, John Grant
, Lawrence Arabia
, The Low Anthem
, Laura Veirs
and Mountain Man
the future is very bright for this unique artist-run label. Label founder Simon Raymonde is also in demand as a producer, mixing Fionn Regan's Mercury-nominated debut, and the seminal Lift to Exerience album, the first two Duke Spirit albums, Stephanie Dosen
's A Lily For The Spectre, and the forthcoming album by Lucas Renney, ex-Golden Virgins singer, featuring members of Midlake and Stephanie Dosen's band.
The label won the 2010 Independent Record Company Of The Year at the Music Week Awards. Previous winners XL Recordings
, Rough Trade Records
, Domino Records, Ministry of Sound.
In 2010, Bella Union entered the USA market, working in partnership with the Yep Roc
Label Group who will act as the label's background team in North America. In 2010, Bella Union released records from The Acorn
, Lawrence Arabia
, Midlake
, John Grant
(with Midlake), Heidi Spencer and the Rare Birds and Lone Wolf
among others.
In 2011, Bella Union released debut records from a number of new artists as well as highly anticipated new albums from the likes of The Low Anthem
, Explosions In The Sky
and Fleet Foxes
.
Independent record label
An independent record label is a record label operating without the funding of or outside the organizations of the major record labels. A great number of bands and musical acts begin on independent labels.-Overview:...
that was started up by Simon Raymonde
Simon Raymonde
Simon Philip Raymonde is an English musician and record producer. He is the son of the late arranger and composer, Ivor Raymonde.-Career:...
and Robin Guthrie
Robin Guthrie
Robin Guthrie is a musician best known as co-founder of the Cocteau Twins. During his career Guthrie has played guitar, bass guitar, keyboards, drums and other musical instruments, in addition to programming, sampling and sound processing...
in 1997.
After releasing records with 4AD
4AD
4AD is a British independent record label that was started in 1979 by Ivo Watts-Russell and Peter Kent, funded by Beggars Banquet Records, and is still active today...
for a large part of their career, Cocteau Twins
Cocteau Twins
Cocteau Twins were a Scottish alternative rock band active from 1979 to 1997, known for innovative instrumentation and atmospheric, non-lyrical vocals...
decided to take a step towards independence and started up the Bella Union record label, through which they could release their own work as well as any collaborative efforts. The band split up not long after, but instead of letting the newly formed label go under, Robin Guthrie
Robin Guthrie
Robin Guthrie is a musician best known as co-founder of the Cocteau Twins. During his career Guthrie has played guitar, bass guitar, keyboards, drums and other musical instruments, in addition to programming, sampling and sound processing...
, Cocteau Twins' founder and lead guitarist and Simon Raymonde
Simon Raymonde
Simon Philip Raymonde is an English musician and record producer. He is the son of the late arranger and composer, Ivor Raymonde.-Career:...
, the band's bassist since 1984, decided to take charge of it. One of the earliest bands to sign on was the Australian trio Dirty Three
Dirty Three
Dirty Three are an instrumental trio consisting of Warren Ellis , Mick Turner and Jim White , originating from Melbourne, Australia. Since the Dirty Three formed in 1992, they have spent a lot of time overseas...
, who continue to release under Bella Union to this day. Other early signees include Françoiz Breut
Françoiz Breut
Françoiz Breut is the stage name of Françoise Breut, a French illustrator and chanteuse of moody and melancholic pop. Breut got involved with music when her then-fiancé, French pop star Dominique A, asked her to contribute vocals on three songs of his 1993 album, Si Je Connais Harry...
and The Czars
The Czars
The Czars was an alternative rock band, formed in 1994 in Denver by John Grant and Chris Pearson. They released six studio albums, one EP, and three singles in the duration of their career. After the release of Goodbye in 2004, five of the six members of The Czars left the band over the span of...
. The label fosters bands from a variety of musical genres and is notable for the amount of freedom given to its artists. Since 2000, when Guthrie moved to France to concentrate on his own music and Raymonde took the reins at Bella Union, the label has signed more artists like Laura Veirs, Lift To Experience, Explosions In The Sky
Explosions in the Sky
Explosions in the Sky is an American post-rock band from Texas. The band has garnered popularity beyond the post-rock scene for their elaborately developed guitar work, narratively styled instrumentals, what they refer to as "cathartic mini-symphonies," and their enthusiastic and emotional live shows...
etc. In 2006 the label had a memorable year with Midlake
Midlake
Midlake is an American rock band from Denton, Texas. The band first gained popularity in Europe, signing to Bella Union Records and playing at festivals such as Les Inrockuptibles, Wintercase, End Of The Road Festival and South by Southwest.-History:...
, The Dears
The Dears
-History:The band formed in 1995 and released their first album, End of a Hollywood Bedtime Story, in 2000. Their orchestral, dark pop sound and dramatic live shows cemented The Dears at the foundation of the then-emerging Canadian indie renaissance...
, Howling Bells
Howling Bells
Howling Bells are an indie rock band that formed in Sydney in 2004. The band obtained moderate popularity in the United Kingdom following the release of its 2006 self-titled debut album...
, and Fionn Regan all having great success, and in 2007 as the 10th anniversary celebrations saw them host two nights at the Royal Festival Hall, with special guests Paul Weller, Romeo and Tom from Editors, the year was capped off by Fionn Regan being nominated for a Mercury Prize Best Album Of The Year. In 2008 and 2009, with the phenomenal success of their discovery of Fleet Foxes
Fleet Foxes
Fleet Foxes are a folk rock band which formed in Seattle, Washington. They are signed to the Sub Pop and Bella Union record labels. The band came to prominence in 2008 with the release of their second EP, Sun Giant, and their debut full length album Fleet Foxes...
, which remained in the chart for 100 weeks consecutively, and was the biggest selling independent album of the year, gave the label their first Platinum selling disc. The label has sold over half a million sales to date
With subsequent releases from Beach House
Beach House
Beach House is a dream pop duo formed in 2004 in Baltimore, Maryland, consisting of French-born Victoria Legrand and Baltimore native Alex Scally. Their self-titled debut, Beach House, released in 2006, was critically acclaimed. This was followed by their second release, Devotion, in 2008...
, Department of Eagles
Department of Eagles
Department of Eagles is a band formed in 2000 by friends and New York University roommates Daniel Rossen and Fred Nicolaus...
, Lone Wolf
Lone Wolf (musician)
Lone Wolf is the pseudonym of Leeds based alternative/folk singer/songwriter Paul Marshall.Paul decided Lone Wolf was the most appropriate name because he never allows anyone else to become involved in his writing process.-Early life:...
, Our Broken Garden, Fleet Foxes
Fleet Foxes
Fleet Foxes are a folk rock band which formed in Seattle, Washington. They are signed to the Sub Pop and Bella Union record labels. The band came to prominence in 2008 with the release of their second EP, Sun Giant, and their debut full length album Fleet Foxes...
, The Acorn
The Acorn
The Acorn is a Canadian indie folk band from Ottawa, Ontario, formed in 2003. Their songs have charted on Canadian campus charts and have been in rotation on CBC Radio 3 and The Verge....
, Abe Vigoda
Abe Vigoda (band)
Abe Vigoda is a punk rock band based in Los Angeles, California, but are originally from Chino, California; a city in the Inland Empire. They frequently perform at The Smell. The May 2008 issue of The Fader magazine features an interview with the band....
, J. Tillman
J. Tillman
Joshua Tillman is an American folk singer, guitarist and songwriter. He is also the current drummer for the Seattle-based band Fleet Foxes...
, Peter Broderick
Peter Broderick
Peter Broderick is an American musician and composer from Carlton, Oregon. He has released solo material under his own name, been a member of Efterklang, and played with several ensembles as a session musician.-Biography:...
, The Kissaway Trail
The Kissaway Trail
The Kissaway Trail are a five-piece indie rock band from Odense, Denmark. They follow a number of other Danish alternative bands to make names of themselves, such as Mew, The Raveonettes and Carpark North.-History:...
, Pearly Gate Music, John Grant
John Grant
John Grant may refer to:*John Grant , Screenwriter, wrote for Abbott and Costello*Johannes Grant, engineer, believed by some scholars to have been Scottish, who fought in the Siege of Constantinople*John Gaston Grant , U.S...
, Lawrence Arabia
Lawrence Arabia
Lawrence Arabia is the musical guise of New Zealand artist James Milne. In 2006, Lawrence Arabia released his self titled debut album and the debut album his band The Reduction Agents, The Dance Reduction Agents...
, The Low Anthem
The Low Anthem
The Low Anthem is an American indie folk band from Providence, Rhode Island, formed in 2006. The band consists of multi-instrumentalists Ben Knox Miller, Jeff Prystowsky and Jocie Adams, and rose to prominence with the re-release of its third studio album, Oh My God, Charlie Darwin, in 2009.In...
, Laura Veirs
Laura Veirs
Laura Pauline Veirs is an American singer-songwriter.Veirs was raised in Colorado, studied geology and Mandarin Chinese at Carleton College, worked as a translator for a geological expedition in China, and now lives in Portland, Oregon.While growing up, she heard folk-country, classical, and pop...
and Mountain Man
Mountain man
Mountain men were trappers and explorers who roamed the North American Rocky Mountains from about 1810 through the 1880s where they were instrumental in opening up the various Emigrant Trails allowing Americans in the east to settle the new territories of the far west by organized wagon trains...
the future is very bright for this unique artist-run label. Label founder Simon Raymonde is also in demand as a producer, mixing Fionn Regan's Mercury-nominated debut, and the seminal Lift to Exerience album, the first two Duke Spirit albums, Stephanie Dosen
Stephanie Dosen
Stephanie Dosen is an American singer-songwriter. She was raised in Wisconsin. Her songs have been featured on the soundtracks of Dawson's Creek, NUMB3RS and Party of Five....
's A Lily For The Spectre, and the forthcoming album by Lucas Renney, ex-Golden Virgins singer, featuring members of Midlake and Stephanie Dosen's band.
The label won the 2010 Independent Record Company Of The Year at the Music Week Awards. Previous winners XL Recordings
XL Recordings
XL Recordings is a British independent record label owned by Richard Russell. It originated as a 1989 offshoot of Beggars Banquet Records.Though only releasing an average of six albums a year, XL Recordings has worked with The Prodigy, Radiohead, The White Stripes, Dizzee Rascal, M.I.A., Vampire...
, Rough Trade Records
Rough Trade Records
Rough Trade Records is an independent record label based in London. It was formed in 1978 by Geoff Travis who had opened a record store off Ladbroke Grove...
, Domino Records, Ministry of Sound.
In 2010, Bella Union entered the USA market, working in partnership with the Yep Roc
Yep Roc Records
Yep Roc Records is an independent International record label based in Haw River, North Carolina and owned by Redeye Distribution . The label has put out albums by artists like The Go-Betweens, The Fleshtones, Gang of Four, The Reverend Horton Heat, and The Minus 5, as well as the work of important...
Label Group who will act as the label's background team in North America. In 2010, Bella Union released records from The Acorn
The Acorn
The Acorn is a Canadian indie folk band from Ottawa, Ontario, formed in 2003. Their songs have charted on Canadian campus charts and have been in rotation on CBC Radio 3 and The Verge....
, Lawrence Arabia
Lawrence Arabia
Lawrence Arabia is the musical guise of New Zealand artist James Milne. In 2006, Lawrence Arabia released his self titled debut album and the debut album his band The Reduction Agents, The Dance Reduction Agents...
, Midlake
Midlake
Midlake is an American rock band from Denton, Texas. The band first gained popularity in Europe, signing to Bella Union Records and playing at festivals such as Les Inrockuptibles, Wintercase, End Of The Road Festival and South by Southwest.-History:...
, John Grant
John Grant (musician)
John Grant is an American singer-songwriter. He recently launched his career as a solo artist, having previously been lead vocalist with The Czars, an alternative rock band he formed in 1994 in Denver with Chris Pearson....
(with Midlake), Heidi Spencer and the Rare Birds and Lone Wolf
Lone Wolf (musician)
Lone Wolf is the pseudonym of Leeds based alternative/folk singer/songwriter Paul Marshall.Paul decided Lone Wolf was the most appropriate name because he never allows anyone else to become involved in his writing process.-Early life:...
among others.
In 2011, Bella Union released debut records from a number of new artists as well as highly anticipated new albums from the likes of The Low Anthem
The Low Anthem
The Low Anthem is an American indie folk band from Providence, Rhode Island, formed in 2006. The band consists of multi-instrumentalists Ben Knox Miller, Jeff Prystowsky and Jocie Adams, and rose to prominence with the re-release of its third studio album, Oh My God, Charlie Darwin, in 2009.In...
, Explosions In The Sky
Explosions in the Sky
Explosions in the Sky is an American post-rock band from Texas. The band has garnered popularity beyond the post-rock scene for their elaborately developed guitar work, narratively styled instrumentals, what they refer to as "cathartic mini-symphonies," and their enthusiastic and emotional live shows...
and Fleet Foxes
Fleet Foxes
Fleet Foxes are a folk rock band which formed in Seattle, Washington. They are signed to the Sub Pop and Bella Union record labels. The band came to prominence in 2008 with the release of their second EP, Sun Giant, and their debut full length album Fleet Foxes...
.
Artists
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Françoiz Breut Françoiz Breut is the stage name of Françoise Breut, a French illustrator and chanteuse of moody and melancholic pop. Breut got involved with music when her then-fiancé, French pop star Dominique A, asked her to contribute vocals on three songs of his 1993 album, Si Je Connais Harry... Howling Bells Howling Bells are an indie rock band that formed in Sydney in 2004. The band obtained moderate popularity in the United Kingdom following the release of its 2006 self-titled debut album... I Break Horses I Break Horses is an Swedish indie band composed of Maria Lindén and Fredrik Balck.-Reviews:The Guardian music critic Hermione Hoby described their music as "heady, sumptuously textured soundscapes", while Pitchfork music critic Ian Cohen comments that they "immerse themselves in homemade shoegaze,... The Kissaway Trail The Kissaway Trail are a five-piece indie rock band from Odense, Denmark. They follow a number of other Danish alternative bands to make names of themselves, such as Mew, The Raveonettes and Carpark North.-History:... Jack Dangers Jack Dangers is an electronic musician, DJ, producer, and remixer best known for his work as the primary member of Meat Beat Manifesto. He lives in San Francisco.-Career:... John Grant John Grant may refer to:*John Grant , Screenwriter, wrote for Abbott and Costello*Johannes Grant, engineer, believed by some scholars to have been Scottish, who fought in the Siege of Constantinople*John Gaston Grant , U.S... Jonathan Wilson Jonathan Wilson is the name of:* Jonathan Wilson , American Psychedelic Folk musician* Jonathan Wilson, former member of the band Eisley* Jonathan Wilson , British sports journalist and author... Josh Martinez Josh Martinez , is a Canadian rapper, record producer and record label executive. In the early 2000s, Martinez started his own label, Camobear Records, to which fellow rap artist Moka Only is signed... Josh T. Pearson Josh T. Pearson is a musician from Texas. In 1996 he formed the short-lived but now critically acclaimed band Lift to Experience, who released one double album, 2001's The Texas-Jerusalem Crossroads, before splitting up soon after. Lift To Experience played live shows and became a favorite of the... J. Tillman Joshua Tillman is an American folk singer, guitarist and songwriter. He is also the current drummer for the Seattle-based band Fleet Foxes... Kid Loco Jean-Yves Prieur, aka Kid Loco is a French electronic musician, DJ, remixer and producer. He was born on June 16, 1964 in Antony, Hauts-de-Seine, France. Allmusic considers his style to be similar to Air and Dimitri from Paris... Lanterns on the Lake Lanterns On The Lake are a six-piece indie rock band from Newcastle-upon-tyne, United Kingdom.-History:Lanterns On The Lake formed in 2007. The band is composed of Hazel Wilde, Paul Gregory, Sarah Kemp, Oliver Ketteringham and brothers Adam and Brendan Sykes.... Laura Veirs Laura Pauline Veirs is an American singer-songwriter.Veirs was raised in Colorado, studied geology and Mandarin Chinese at Carleton College, worked as a translator for a geological expedition in China, and now lives in Portland, Oregon.While growing up, she heard folk-country, classical, and pop... Lawrence Arabia Lawrence Arabia is the musical guise of New Zealand artist James Milne. In 2006, Lawrence Arabia released his self titled debut album and the debut album his band The Reduction Agents, The Dance Reduction Agents... Lift to Experience Lift to Experience was a band from Denton, Texas that formed in 1996 with vocalist and guitarist Josh T. Pearson, drummer Andy "The Boy" Young and bassist Josh "The Bear" Browning... Lisa Dewey Lisa Dewey is an American shoegaze, alternative rock and dream pop singer-songwriter and musician.Dewey is best known for her unique musical style and her personal lyrics... Lone Wolf (musician) Lone Wolf is the pseudonym of Leeds based alternative/folk singer/songwriter Paul Marshall.Paul decided Lone Wolf was the most appropriate name because he never allows anyone else to become involved in his writing process.-Early life:... The Low Anthem The Low Anthem is an American indie folk band from Providence, Rhode Island, formed in 2006. The band consists of multi-instrumentalists Ben Knox Miller, Jeff Prystowsky and Jocie Adams, and rose to prominence with the re-release of its third studio album, Oh My God, Charlie Darwin, in 2009.In... Midlake Midlake is an American rock band from Denton, Texas. The band first gained popularity in Europe, signing to Bella Union Records and playing at festivals such as Les Inrockuptibles, Wintercase, End Of The Road Festival and South by Southwest.-History:... |
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Mountain Man (music group) Mountain Man is an American singing trio of young women described as indie folk rock with a traditional Appalachian-type folk sound. They are notable for earning critical acclaim from numerous music critics... My Latest Novel - Background :A four piece, , My Latest Novel are from the small town of Greenock, near Glasgow in Scotland. They augment the traditional rock line up of guitars, drums, bass and keyboards, with the use of violins, xylophones, samples and undulating percussion, as well as multi-part vocals... Ohbijou -Biography:Ohbijou began as the solo project of Brantford singer-songwriter Casey Mecija . Through the process of songwriting and composition, Casey discovered a need for the musical support of her sister Jennifer Mecija , whom Casey invited to assist with her early performances... Peter Broderick Peter Broderick is an American musician and composer from Carlton, Oregon. He has released solo material under his own name, been a member of Efterklang, and played with several ensembles as a session musician.-Biography:... Peter von Poehl Peter von Poehl is a Swedish singer-songwriter, composer, musician and director.He was the guitarist for A.S. Dragon, once the backing band for Bertrand Burgalat and in Michel Houellebecq's album Présence humaine... Phil Selway Philip James "Phil" "The Graf" Selway is an English musician and songwriter, best known as the drummer of English rock group Radiohead. He also drums and provides backing vocals, along with occasional guitar and lead vocals, for 7 Worlds Collide... Robert Gomez Robert Gomez is a musician from Denton, TX. After his first self-released album in 2005, Etherville, he was then signed to the British Label Bella Union and released the album Brand New Towns in 2007. Brand New Towns was relatively well received in the British press, such as The Guardian, The... Rothko (band) Rothko were a London-based instrumental ambient group. The group mainly used bass guitars and keyboards to create their soundscapes. They derived their name from the painter Mark Rothko... Simon Raymonde Simon Philip Raymonde is an English musician and record producer. He is the son of the late arranger and composer, Ivor Raymonde.-Career:... Sing-Sing (band) Sing-Sing were an English indie pop/dream pop band formed in 1997 in London. It consisted of vocalist Lisa O'Neill and guitarist/vocalist Emma Anderson, formerly of Lush. They worked with a variety of musicians to achieve a unique and eclectic sound which nodded to 60's girl groups, electronica... Sleeping States Sleeping States is a musical solo project of British musician Markland Starkie .Started in 2004 in London, Sleeping States falls predominantly in the songwriter genre... Stephanie Dosen Stephanie Dosen is an American singer-songwriter. She was raised in Wisconsin. Her songs have been featured on the soundtracks of Dawson's Creek, NUMB3RS and Party of Five.... The Venue The Venue may refer to any of various places including:* The Venue , former nightclub and cinema in Liverpool* The Venue , now the Leicester Square Theatre... Treefight for Sunlight (band) Treefight for Sunlight is a four-piece indie pop band from North Jutland, Denmark. The group's current line-up consists of Mathias Sørensen , Morten Winther Nielsen , Christian Rohde Lindinger , Niels Kirk... Veronica Falls Veronica Falls are an indie pop band which formed in London, United Kingdom, in 2009. The band consists of Roxanne Clifford and James Hoare both on vocals and guitar, Marion Herbain on bass guitar and Patrick Doyle on drums and back vocals. The members of the band were formerly in the bands The... Vetiver (band) Vetiver are an American folk band headed by songwriter Andy Cabic.- History :Cabic was a member of the Greensboro, North Carolina indie rock band The Raymond Brake who released some records on the now defunct Simple Machines label. He formed Vetiver after moving to San Francisco. The band... The Walkmen The Walkmen are an American indie rock band, with members based in New York City and Philadelphia. The band formed in 2000 with three members from Jonathan Fire*Eater—Paul Maroon , Walter Martin , and Matt Barrick —and two from The Recoys, Peter Bauer and Hamilton Leithauser . All but Bauer... |